The Efficacy of Our Prophet's (saas) Prayers

The Lord graced our Prophet (saas) with incomparable blessings. Our Prophet (saas) showed his Companions many miracles, one of which was the efficacy of his prayers.

His prayers for rain were answered

Like all other prophets, our Prophet (saas) had an intimate bond with Allah; he was a sincere servant with deep faith and intense fear of and respect for Allah. The Lord granted his prayers, which enabled his Companions and others around him to witness miracles. For example, Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim relate the following from Anas (ra):

A man entered the mosque on Friday while the Prophet was addressing the people. The man said: "O Messenger of Allah, our wealth has been destroyed and we have no transport to the market place. Pray for rain for us." The Prophet raised his hands and said: "O Allah, give us rain. O Allah, give us rain. O Allah, give us rain." By Allah, at that time there were no clouds in the sky and there was no house or building between us and the mountain. From behind the mountain came a cloud looking like a shield. By the time it reached the middle of the sky, it burst and started to rain. 32

Here are some other relevant hadiths:

Narrated Sharik bin 'Abdullah bin Abi Namir:

I heard Anas ibn Malik say: "One Friday a person entered the main mosque through the gate facing the pulpit while the Messenger of Allah was delivering the khutbah. He stood in front of the Messenger of Allah and said: 'O Messenger of Allah , the livestock are dying and the roads are cut off. Please pray to Allah for rain.' Anas added: 'The Messenger of Allah raised both his hands and said: "O Allah, bless us with rain. O Allah, bless us with rain. O Allah, bless us with rain."' Anas added: 'By Allah, we could not see any trace of cloud in the sky and there was no building or house between us and (the mountains of) Sila.' Anas added: 'A heavy cloud like a shield appeared from behind it (i.e., Sila' Mountain). When it came in the middle of the sky, it spread and then rained.'" 33

Yahya related to me from Malik from Sharik ibn Abdullah ibn Abi Namir that Anas ibn Malik said: "A man came to the Messenger of Allah (saas) and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, our animals are dying and our camels are too weak to travel. Please pray to Allah [for us].' The Messenger of Allah (saas) did so, and it rained on us from one jumu`ah to the next." 34

Narrated Anas:

A man entered the mosque on Friday while the Prophet was addressing the people. He said: "O Messenger of Allah, our wealth has been destroyed and we have no transport to the market place. Pray for rain for us." The Prophet raised his hands and said: "O Allah, give us rain. O Allah, give us rain. O Allah, give us rain." By Allah, at that time there were no clouds in the sky and there was no house or building between the mountain and us. From behind the mountain came a cloud looking like a shield. By the time it reached the middle of the sky, it burst and started to rain. 35

Companions who received our Prophet's (saas) prayers and remained young

Allah says in the Qur'an that our Prophet (saas) was very attached to the believers: "A Messenger has come to you from among yourselves. Your suffering is distressing to him, he is deeply concerned for you, and he is gentle and merciful to the believers" (Surat al-Tawba: 128). In the hadiths, he made many recommendations about their health, security, and faith, all the while approaching them with mercy and compassion. One result of this love and attachment was that he prayed for many things on their behalf. Allah states in the Qur'an:

Thus, his prayers for believers brought them rest and peace of mind. Similarly, the hadiths say that he prayed for long life for his Companions and that these prayers were answered. Some of these Companions are mentioned by name:

Ibn Abi Shaybah related from Abu Nu`aym and Ibn al-Asakir: He caused the Prophet to drink milk. The Prophet prayed to Him: "O Allah, may He make the most of his youth." 36

Other hadiths mention how his prayers made some of the Companions continue to look young even when they were quite old. Those Companions for whom he prayed for long lives lived for 100 years. 37 He stroked the head of another Companion and prayed: "O Allah, make him beautiful and make that beauty long-lasting." That Companion's face remained young and handsome until he died. 38

Stand and face Him in every mosque and call on Him, making your religion sincerely His.
(Surat al-A'raf: 29)

Our Prophet (saas) was interested in his Companions' problems and did what he could to help them. By the will of Allah, his prayers for them always resulted in blessings and healing. There are many examples of this in the hadiths, several of which are given here:

Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim relate from Anas: The Prophet said: "O Allah, give him (i.e., Anas) property and children and bless him." Thus I am one of the richest Ansaris and have had numerous children. 39

The Prophet said to 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn 'Awf: "May Allah make you plentiful." Ibn Sa`d and al-Bayhaqi relate this from another source and add: `'Abd ar-Rahman said: "I have become so wealthy that whichever stone I raise I know I will find either gold or silver."40

The Prophet prayed for al-Baraqi. He reached such a level in commerce that he knew that even if he sold soil he would earn from it.41

Abu 'Uqayl said that when his grandfather 'Abdullah ibn Hisham went to the market to buy wheat, he met Ibn al-Zubayr and Ibn 'Umar, who said: "Be our partner, because the Prophet prayed for plenty for you." At that, he shared his wheat with them. Yet his camel load never grew less due to this abundance. He returned home with it. 42

Call on your Lord humbly and secretly. He does not love those who overstep the limits.
(Surat al-A'raf: 55)

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